NFL notes: Jaguars fire receivers coach, waive Jason Hill

Wednesday

Nov 30, 2011 at 3:40 AM

Jaguars interim coach Mel Tucker fired receivers Johnny Cox and shuffled other assignments on an active day that also included the release of receiver Jason Hill.

Tucker essentially made Cox the scapegoat for the team's poor offensive performance this season. The Jaguars (3-8) rank last in the NFL in offense and have been plagued by poor routes, dropped passes and inconsistent quarterback play.

Tucker also moved quarterbacks coach Mike Sheppard to work with receivers, a position he held the previous four years in Cincinnati.

Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter will serve as quarterbacks coach, tutoring rookie Blaine Gabbert for the remaining five games of the season.

The team also waived Hill, taking a step toward preparing for next year.

Hill had a disappointing season, catching 25 passes for 367 yards and three touchdowns, and dropped several balls. Since the Jaguars (3-8) plan to revamp their receiving corps in the offseason, waiving Hill forces Jarett Dillard, Chastin West, Cecil Shorts and Brian Robiskie onto the field more for evaluation.

The team also signed running back DuJuan Harris to the active roster from the practice squad, a move that could mean less playing time for Deji Karim.

Jacksonville also signed free agent cornerback Morgan Trent and placed safety Courtney Greene on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. The Jaguars have a league-high 18 players on injured reserve.

Rams: Quarterback Sam Bradford was limited in practice after aggravating a high left ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Bradford probably took half of the snaps in practice Wednesday as a precaution. The quarterback said the ankle was sore but otherwise he felt pretty good considering it's late in the season.

Chargers: San Diego placed offensive tackle Marcus McNeill on season-ending injured reserve with a neck injury and signed tackle Jared Gaither off waivers.

McNeill injured his neck during a loss to the Oakland Raiders on Nov. 10 and was inactive for the last two games.

Vikings: Sidney Rice's season is being cut short.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll announced Wednesday that Rice would be placed on injured reserve after suffering two concussions within weeks of each other.

Carroll had already ruled Rice out for Thursday night's game against Philadelphia after Rice was injured in last week's game against Washington.

Eagles: Michael Vick will miss his third straight game because of broken ribs when the Eagles play at Seattle (4-7) tonight.

Vince Young will start for the Eagles (4-7). The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback is 1-1 in his first two starts.

Dolphins: A report by the Broward Sheriff's Office says Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall was briefly handcuffed and detained while deputies investigated a misunderstanding about a $142 cab fare.

Marshall eventually paid the fare and was released without being charged.

The incident, first reported by the South Florida Times, occurred early Nov. 14, barely 12 hours after a Dolphins' home victory over Washington. When a taxi driver summoned deputies shortly before 7 a.m., Marshall was handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol car while deputies questioned those involved.

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